Improvement in hand corn-huskers



S H. MITCHELL.

Hand Corn-Huskers.

No. 133,659, Patented DEC-3,1872.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sAM'Un-L H. MITCH-ELMO}? LAGON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND CORN-HUSKERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,659, dated December3, 1872.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. MITCHELL of Lacon, in the county ofMarshall and in the Stateof Illinois, have invented an Im-v proved CornPicker or'Husker; and do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexeddrawing making a part of this specification, in which like letters ofreference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view, showing the bearing of the inner end of the huskeragainst the hand; and Fig. 2, a superficial or plan view of thehusker,'showing the origin of the thumb and forefinger, so that intaking hold of an ear of corn or its husk a strong twist of thisimplement may be given to wrench or tear off the husk more readily andwith greater efiect than with a mere rectilinear pull and main or sheerforce, as exem-' plified in nearly all known hand-huskers.

I A A represent the two equal arms of the husker, the best size of whichmay be about five to six inches in length, and about from one-half inchto three-fourths of an inch in width, and made of one piece ofhoop-iron, not too thick to fatigue the hand in closing it when readyfor use, bent in the middle with a fair circular curve, 0, to get thefull amount of .springiness from the material. The arms may be broughtor bent so as to remain about two inches asunder, and for greaterstrength may each be curved longitudinally. The ends are returned towardone another with serrated edges b b, so that the teeth on one side orarm pass into the spaces between the other teeth. 0n the lower arm, nearthe middle, is -attached a strap, D, large enough to admit the thumb ofthe wearerw-a good mode of attaching the same being showninthe drawing,viz.,three holes with about the distance of half an inch between each,the middle hole being at the middle of the arm. Through the hole nearestto the inner or spring end of the same is passed the endof thethumb-strap D, which is out (like the head of an arrow) with barbs f,and, passing through this hole, runs along the inside of said arm intothe next perforation, where the barbs cut on each side of the point ofthe leather prevent its return. The other end of this strap is held in asimilar mannerby the third hole near the end of the arm. To the upperarm is attached a finger;stall, B, which may belaced together at the topfor better adjustment to the finger. I

This end of the stall is fastened diagonally across, the arm, so thattwo or more fingers may press upon the same-a good form of attachmentbeing shown in the drawing, viz.,

by rivets passing through the iron and that part of the stall restingupon the iron. One end of the stall B is lengthened into a strap, d,which is confined by a loop or similar device to a strap, (J, which isfastened round the hand by a button, buckle, or other adjustable device.

The operation of this device needs little or no description; but asthere are two ways of wearing and managing it, I will describe both:First, the forefinger is placed within the stall B, and the thong Osecured around the hand; the thumb is placed within the strap D, and thesecond or the second and third fin- I gers resting upon the end of theupper arm of the husker or upon each other, to obtain extra power, ifnecessary, in holding the husks within the teeth in wrenching them offby a strong pull to the right and downward accompanied by a twist of thehand. By this motion the spring-end of the husker has a strongbearingagainst that part of the hand between the origin of the thumb andforefinger; one of the objects obtained by'the present device-Le,lengthening the tongs beyond the part of the hand mentioned. Second, thehusker may also be used in the reverse way to the one above described-t.0., by inserting the thumb in the stall B and the forefingerin the strapD, and retaining the spring e in the hollow of the palm.

What I claim as my invention is A corn-husker, composed of the sin glestrip In testimony that I eiaim the foregoing cornof metal, bent so asto form the spring e, as husker I have hereunto set my hand this 23ddescribed, and provided with the teeth b b, day of September, 1872.

and combined with the strapD and diagonally- SAMUEL H. MITCHELL.arranged stall B having strap d and adjusta- Witnesses:

ble hand-strap O, substantially as herein set EDSON ROMAINE,

, H.\W. WELLS.

forth. I

